Follower for filing-trays.



F. L. MANNY.

FOLLOWER FOR FILING TRAYS.

APPLICATION 'HLED MAY 29. 1916.

1,226,790. Patented May 22,1917.

' Tan srarns ramena ernten.

FRED ITVMANNY, or BENTON IIABBOB, MICHIGAN, AssIeNoB, BY MBsNB ASSIGNMENTS, l To BAKEB-VAWTBB COMPANY, or BENTON HeBBoB, MICHIGAN, A. ooBBoBATIoN 0F MICHIGAN.

roLLownB BoB, rILINeLTBAYs.

and classification of letters, or bills, or other documents in accordance with methods now largely followed in commercial establishments. rlhe object ofI my invention is the provision of simpleA and effective adjustingA mechanism adapted to permit the back plate to move freely in a forward direction, but arranged to automatically lock the plate against rearward movement except when a releasing member isoperative to permit such movement. With this` object in view l have devised the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail, and my invention consists in the arrangement and organization of cooperatingp'arts, the` essential elements thereof being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.`

Figure 1 vofthe drawings is a perspective of a filingtray showing a backv plate or follower in `which my invention is embodied; Fig. 2 is a rear view ofthe follower; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the bottom of the figure extending toward the front of the box; and Fig. 4 is'a detail of one of the two bracketsand slides to which the follower plate is securedy but detached from the follower and tray, the view being a perspective of the left hand bracket as the same wonldbe arranged if p viewed from'above and in front of the tray.

r1`he`same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures of the drawings.

While my invention may be applied to trays or boxes varying considerably in size and proportions, l'have chosen for purposes of illustration and description a tray of well known character and proportions and forming the drawer of a suitable cabinet, such as is in common use for containing the cards of a card index catalogue, or a system of classification of some similar description.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application fnea May 2e, 191e. serial NQ. 100,438.

In order to adapt such tray formy invention the sldes thereof have secured to their top edges sheet metal strips 1-1 longitudinally bent as shown inthe drawings-fece Figs. 1 and 2,-to form'longitudinal slideways each having a horizontal bottom 2, side wall 3, andtop wall 4C which is reeurved to constitute a depending marginal retaining flange 5. The flange 5 and top wall e are cut away the front of the box (see Fig. 1) a suiiicient distance to permit the insertion of the slides,`her'einafter to bedescribed, which carry the'follower'and parts of the adjusting mechanism mounted upon it.

The follower plate, as illustrated` may be conveniently formed of sheet metal bent to form an inclined wall 6 extending nearly to the bottom of the tray and forming the card support, a horizontal top 7 and a depending rear iiange 8. Rigidly secured to the oppositesides of said follower plate adjacent its top are the slides 9 which are arranged to run in the slideways above described, these slides in the present instance 4being formed integral with a pair of brackets 10 which are secured to the opposite upper corners of the follower plate. The brackets, intermediate the slides 9 and downwardly inclined attaching strips 11 which are secured to the l follower plate, have horizontal portions 12 which extend underthe top 7 ofthe follower plate. At the opposite side of the follower,

and interposedbetween its top 7 and the horizontal portion 12 of the brackets are two 'filler blocks 13 having their outer edges slightly inclined with respect to the direction of the slides, in such manner that the faces of the lugs spread away from each other andftoward4 thenadjacentslides from rear` to front. The arrangementand proportions of the parts are such. that the slides 9 may be inserted downwardly on the bottoms 2 of the tracks andslid rearwardly in the slideways opposite any portion of the retaining flanges 5, which flanges,4 as shown in Figs. 2 and`3, will'lie adjacent the opposite ends of the top 7 and its connected flange 8 of the follower plate` and form tracks withV which the rollers hereinafter mentioned cooperate. 'In the box which is formed at each side of the follower by the horizontal Dol:- tion 12 of the bracket. the adjoining parts of the wall 6, top 7 and flange 8 of the follower plate, the Hange 5 of the slideway and the inclined face of the block 13, is arranged an annular roller 14: which forms one of the gripping members of the adjusting mechanism. These rollers are normally pressed yieldingly forward by the upturned ends ofa spring-pressed rod 15 which is j ournaled in bearing clips 16 securedto the under sides of the brackets and which is equipped with a finger-piece 17 by which it mayV be oscillated to shift the rollers rearwardly into the wider end or part o f the box in which it is housed. The adjustment is such that the rollers will be wedged between the inclined face of the block 13 of the follower and the roller track formed by the flange 5 of the slideway at a point near, o r somewhat forwardly of the center of such face. It may be noted that when the follower and associated parts are removed from the tray the slides 9 form retainers which close the outer sides of the roller housings.

From the description which has been given the operation of my device will be apparent. It is manifest that arearward pressure against the follower plate will only tighten the grip of the rollers against the flanges 5, owing to the wedging action of the inclined faces of the blocks 13, although the plate can be moved easily in a forward direction without manipulating the finger piece 17, since the tendency of the ball to roll on the flange 5 does not result in wedging it against the block. When it is desired to adjust the follower plate rearwardly, the finger piece is operated, and the rollers being thereby shifted into the wider part of the box in which they are housed, in which position they can offer no resistance to a relative movement of the parts.

It will be understood that the various parts described as secured together and forming at opposite sides of the follower a slide and a boX for housing the rollers and a bearing for the oscillating Operating rod need not bev separate pieces, but may be formed integral, vso far as convenient and desired; and that various structural modifications and changes of proportion may be made without departing from my invention. I therefore do not limit myself in the following claims to the exact and specific construction above described.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tray provided with a slideway and a roller track, a follower equipped with a slide member adapted to run in said way, a roller housing carried by said follower and formed with a wedging surface, and a spring-.pressed roller coperting with said track and said wedging surace.

2. In combination with a tray provided at its sides with opposite slideways and opposite roller tracks, a follower equipped `with a pair ofslides adapted to run in said ways, a pair of roller housings at the opposite sides of said follower formed with wedging surfaces, a pair of spring-pressed rollers arranged to coperate respectively with said tracks and wedging surfaces, and releasing means common to both rollers.

3. In combination with a tray having slideways adjacent the upper edges of its sides, said slideways including retaining flanges constituting a roller track adjacent each slideway, a follower equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in s aid ways, a pair of roller housings adjacent said slides formed with wedging surfaces, a pair of spring-pressed rollers arranged to coperate respectively with said tracks and wedging surfaces, and releasing means common to said rollers.

4. In combination with a tray provided at its sides with opposite slideways and opposite roller tracks, a follower equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in said ways, a pair of roller housings at the opposite sides of said follower formed with wedging surfaces, a pair of annular rollers arranged to coperate with said tracks and wedging surfaces, and areciprocating releasing member having its ends formed to engage the openings in said rollers.

5. In combination with a tray provided at its sides with opposite slideways and opposite roller tracks, a follower equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in said ways, a pair of roller housings at the opposite sides of said follower formed with wedging surfaces, a pair `of rollers arranged to cooperate with said tracks and wedging surfaces, and a rock shaft formed with cranks at its ends connected with said rollers and arranged to'shift them simultaneously.

6. In combination with a tray provided at its sides with opposite slideways and opposite roller tracks, a follower equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in said ways, a

pair of roller housings at the opposite sides of said follower formed with wedging surfaces, a pair of annular rollers arranged to coperatewith said tracks and wedging surfaces, andr a manually operable work-shaft formed with cranks at its ends arranged to portions of said front wall, top and flange of the follower plate and slide and horizontal portion of the bracket piece forming walls of a roller housing, a wall having a wedging face and rigidly secured in place to form the remaining wall of the housing, and

roller gripping Ineans inclosed in said houslng.

8. In combination with a tray having slideways adjacent the upper edges of its sides, said slideways including retaining ianges constituting a roller track adjacent each slideway, a follower comprising' a plate having a depending front wall and a top wall and equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in said ways, and a gripping roller mounted on the rear side of said front wall and under the top wall of the follower plate and arranged to coperate with said roller track.

9. In combination with a tray having slideways adjacent the upper edges of its sides, said slideways each including a re taining flange and said retaining flange being cut away at the front of the tray, a follower plate including a wall which is inclined downwardly and forwardly, said follower plate being equipped at its opposite upper corners with a pair of forwardly projecting supporting slides which are adapted to be inserted in said slideways opposite the cutaway portions of the retaining flanges.

lO. In combination with a tray having slideways adjacent the upper edges of its sides, said slideways including retaining ianges constituting a roller track adjacent each slideway, a follower equipped with a pair of slides adapted to run in said ways, a pair of roller housings, adjacent said slides formed with wedging surfaces, a pair of annular rollers arranged to coperate with said tracks and wedging surfaces, and a manually operable rock shaft formed with cranks at its ends arranged to engage the openings in said rollers and shift them simultaneously.

FRED L. MANNY. Witnesses:

WALTER H. HANNA, CHAUNGEY HOUGHTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

